The White Barn Inn continues to be one of the most romantic restaurants. I will always love the atmosphere it creates & the piano player. I had been going to the White Barn yearly, but took a hiatus of 3 years after one of my parents passed away, as it was his favorite place. Returning for Christmas I was surprised at how much had changed. The food was still mostly good. The appetizer was excellent, the main course, prime rib, was good. Not great, but good. Sadly it was over salted to the point of making me need water after ever bite. The dessert cake looked delicious but was very dry. The amount of ice cream wasn't enough to moisten all of it. The setting is still a stunner with Christmas trees set out the window to create a beautiful view and the barn is rustic chic. The timing is also excellent. They don't rush you and the pauses between courses allows the diner to relax and recover between courses. Things that I missed that I had loved about the White Barn that had made it such a special place: gone we're the amuse bouche, sorbets, and all the delicious chocolates and post desserts at the end. They did have one ginger bread they brought out at the very end, which was excellent. But, where were the madeleines, chocolates, etc. Gone was the little leaving treat they always hand you on your way out. Instead of the option of adding in a cheese course, cheese was now relegated to being just a dessert item. These might be little things, but they were the things that put the White Barn at the top. I can't help but think that with these things gone the quality of the food isn't gone as well. With all the extra things that put the White Barn in the category of a NY/Boston elite restaurant they could charge the price they do. With standards clearly slackened and without all the extras you would get in NY/ Boston area restaurants they no longer deserve to charge the high price they do. In the past I had always had their lobster over fettuccine dish and it was always a stunner. Their soufflé is always outstanding. It is for those past memories that I have given them the high marks, but I had to remove one star for all the things that had changed that had put them up at the top. Sadly they are no longer a must visit for me. read more

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Wow..... perfect trifecta of food service and atmosphere. 5 star dining in a barn....wow amazing!!!

The White Barn Inn restaurant has a very straightforward plan-seat you in a beautiful rustic barn that feels anything like a barn, give you Michelin quality service from the minute you arrive to give your car to the valet until you leave to get your car back & serve you Michelin quality cuisine. This is a restaurant that you will not appreciate if you don't like small plates of exquisite food. Each dish that we had including the amuse bouches was beautifully prepared and presented. The timing between courses was perfect so we didn't feel rushed. It was a wonderful experience that we can't wait to do again! This is a very special restaurant! Our only suggestion would be to provide additional exterior lighting at the road entrance so that people can clearly see the signs and the driveway at night. read more

Never even got the chance to eat there but the manager Hugo is incredibly disrespect and disregarding. We wanted to have a nice anniversary dinner coming from Pennsylvania so made reservations months in advance. For 2 months I tried speaking with Hugo about arranging something nice and was willing to pay extra but he never called back or returned and messages left in which several attempts were made, even by the staff. No excuse for that and totally unprofessional. read more

We have been going to Maine for many years but this was our first visit to the White Barn Inn. It was a 3 course price fixed dinner and was the most delicious food I have had since Italy and Paris. My dinner was mostly lobster and my husband's was mostly beef. His dessert was a peach soufflé and mine was baked Alaska. Chef Matthew is fabulous - and we told him so. I want to post this review but I can't seem to do it at the end they say add stores it and I don't know how to do that. read more

Covid has had an impact. We have been visiting the WBI for dinner for over 15 years and it had always been special. New chef, new menu (long time favorites like pouched lobster and lobster spring roll are gone). Staff has been cut and white glove top notch service has slipped. This is first time we left disappointed. Bring back old menu favs and best service ever. read more

I can say nothing bad about my experience. Everyone was appropriate and helpful. The food is fine and some options were imaginative and interesting (roasted corn starter). On the whole, a nice dining experience albeit a bit pricey. read more

We showed up at the restaurant at the designated time and requested to be pushed out by an hour which the restaurant agreed to do. When we showed up again, the host told us " I can't let you in because you are wearing shorts" in those very words. This guy is so used to sucking up to old rich white people that he needs to feel important and powerful when POC show up for dinner. Mind you this restaurant is located in a beach town where the temperature was over 85 degrees. What era is this that he will let white people in blue jeans into the restaurant but not a POC wearing dressy Polo shorts? I have eaten at Sandy Lane and Blue Hill wearing shorts but not at White Barn! He let us sit at the bar at the entrance but that's as far in as we were allowed. Unless you are over 60, white and rich, don't bother with restaurant! Despicable! read more

Amazing food and ambiance. We did not have reservations but were kindly accommodated at the bar. The cocktails did not disappoint. They also had very inventive drinks without alcohol if that is your jam. Live piano music in a well appointed old barn that overlooks an amazing garden wall just outside a grand picture window. We will definitely be returning here next time we visit. read more

Absolutely fabulous experience. From the impeccabile service to the beyond amazing tasting menu. Chef's balance of fresh herbs and seasonal proteins with just the right amount of coulis was euphoric. And there are not even words to describe the desserts, just sheer pleasure! read more

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My one-star rating in a sea of five stars probably raises some eye brows. I hesitated writing this review because our experience happened some years back and some individuals may think that is unfair. After careful consideration of the circumstances and some explanation, I think my review is appropriate. I am a senior citizen who has worked in many states and in multiple foreign countries. I have had my share of fine dining as well as dining on dirt floors. I know the difference between an upset stomach, the "runs", food poisoning and amoebas. I have had them all. Interestingly I have only had three cases of food poisoning...all in fine dining establishments. As to the White Barn Inn. My wife and I went there to celebrate our impending move from Cape Elizabeth, Maine to Arizona. We both ordered duck. When served, we both noticed the rareness but did not have any particular concern because we prefer our meat rare (but not chicken needless to say) and we both felt that the WBI certainly knew how to properly cook duck. As we soon found out, that was a BIG mistake. In the meantime the meal went well as would normally be expected. The service, the wine, etc were a pleasure. We finished our meal and headed back out to the Maine Turnpike but just as we approached Arundel (a few minutes away from the WBI) I felt stomach sick and quickly pulled over the edge of the road. Surprisingly, my wife had the same reaction as I opened my door. We both jumped out and proceeded to violently throw-up. When we could we proceeded back to CE where we both spent much of the rest of the night near our respective "royal thrones." I called the WBI the next afternoon and spoke with a young-sounding lady. I explained what we experienced the night before and asked if anyone else had called them about getting sick. She responded with a simple "No" and that was that. She expressed no concern nor offered any apology in a manner suggesting that I was wrong and sick before we reached the WBI. I left it go at that. In retrospect that was a mistake. We moved to Arizona but neither of us has ever forgotten the incident and the lack of concern. As a "foodie" we frequently talk about experiences around the world and the WBI is always one "bad" incident we relay. About two weeks ago I sent an email through the WBI website relating our experience and to-date I have had no response. I felt it would be a learning tool if management heard my story. I find their lack of any response indicative of a continuing attitude that they can do no wrong. This is what prompted me to put our experience on Yelp. Maybe others will see this and take note when they dine there. Yes, they are a fine dining establishment but they clearly are not perfect. When flying with wax wings one should be careful not to get to close to the sun. This is why I give them ONE STAR. read more

A Relais & Chateaux property in Kennebunkport for several years, The White Barn Inn was chosen for Independence Day dinner as an excuse to get away from downtown festivities, the opportunity to fete two missed birthdays also an impetus to do the sort of formal dining less-and-less commonly seen in America these days. Recently toqued by Derek Bissonnette, his tenure in the kitchen beginning when longtime Chef Jonathan Cartwright announced his departure in June of 2015, The White Barn Inn is a storied AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5-Star recipient with attached Resort and Spa plus a more casual bistro space, but for those looking for a truly refined experience a space in The Restaurant is the a worthwhile destination, the service all Sir, Ma'am, Please and Thank You while the environment is romantic without being precious, a talented Piano man playing quietly throughout dinner service. Well priced and diverse in manners of dining, a four-course prix-fixe seemingly the most popular though a tasting menu is offered, those familiar with The Inn at Little Washington or Blackberry Farm will instantly recognize the sort of experience offered at Maine's most awarded restaurant and opting to order three different prix-fixe menus a substantial amount of food was able to be tasted, most of it quite excellent. Taking an expected local-seasonal approach to the offerings, even the Foie Gras brought from nearby Quebec, the evening at The White Barn Inn began with craft cocktails and Iced Tea plus Ice Water, the selection of breads unfortunately disappointing as all but the focaccia was dry and lifeless, a real shame as the butter was brought from a local farmhouse and largely went to waste. Not the sort of place to flood the table with canapes, a lone amuse of Beef Tartare on a crisp with Capers and Herbs tasty, if not particularly memorable, it was with the first course that Chef Bissonnette really began to show off his skillset, the trio running a gamut of flavors ranging from the Thai-inspired Lobster Spring Roll to Summer Strawberry and Tomato Gazpacho with Balsamic Ice Cream perched on a crispy diving board while the aforementioned Duck Liver delivered fully by way of a seared steak 'en croute' alongside a clever torchon wrapped in Vanilla and Citrus with nuance added by Fennel Seed powder. Dubbing course two an "intermezzo" the options ranging from light sorbet to soup, suffice it to say that the descriptor undersells the quality as well as the portion of the items offered, Compressed Watermelon with Goat Cheese and Almond Croquant actually a roll of fruit stuffed with chevre that danced with aged balsamic while the Chilled Pea Soup with Peekytoe Crab and boozed-up Lobster Bisque served like a cappuccino were as bold far more sizable and rich than one might have expected, the former truly impressive and perfectly in tune with the season. At this point having seen earlier diners complete their meals and depart for celebration on the beach, main courses continued to be both well presented and big in portion, the vegetarian Lasagna shining as grilled Halloumi mirrored textures of the crispy baked top of more traditional presentations while Guinea Hen offered both a roulade of breast as well as a salt-crusted leg liberated tableside, the fresh pasta beneath a poached lobster was essentially offered as a means to sop up the Ginger-infused Cognac Butter Sauce. Enjoying a single plate of Cheese from a mostly New England based cart before dessert, a Red, White and Blue Cake Pop in smooth Mascarpone patriotically cleansing the palate, the pastry kitchen made up for the bread by way of a puffy Souffle crowned in Peaches alongside the Peanut Butter and Banana Tart and Honey-kissed Cheesecake with basenotes of T ea playing well off citrus, fruit and nuts. read more

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We were seated at a table where my seat was in the aisle. i had to hunch forward every time a server walked past so I wasn't elbowed in the back of the head. The food was good, but very small portions. Service was fair. Overall horrible experience, especially given the cost of the meal. read more

My husband and I have never walked away from a restaurant in my entire life being dismissed as we did by the hostess. We have traveled the world and have eaten at the best dinning establishments. Yet when we decided on this restaurant and we thought let's give it a try. I looked on open table. It had plenty of openings. So we drove over from our summer house. I walked in and I said I'd like a table for 3 in either dining establishment. She said sure. Just wait here. She had me wait ten minutes while she went to front desk. Ill just say this.. I could hear her conversation. Meanwhile walked into both restaurants and saw only a few tables full. I waited and waited. Then she came back and said "we can't sit you " I said "but it's not full and open table has plenty of tables available" She said "we are full". Then she went on to say that the open table was wrong... then on and on about how the fine dining is for hotel guests only. Then I said "well why don't you sit us in the other restaurant area where there is literally one couple in there". Nope. She dismissed us. My husband was so turned off by her behavior He said that he would never recommend such a place when the hostess treats guests this way and the restaurant clearly wasn't full or have reservations for the smaller restaurant. I write for a travel journal my husband and I would probably never return or recommend a restaurant that has a hostess treat people like that. I'm sorry but it still doesn't sit right with us. Oh and I made a reservation after I left on opentable. There was room read more

Wow, how to exceed my expectations! Starting with the polite parking staff to the pre dinner cocktail waitstaff in the fireplaced den. The old adage that you get what you pay for applies here. Not fast food nor fast food pricing. Value. Highest quality ingredients prepared with utmost care and expertise. Complements to the chef and the entire staff ! read more

My wife and I dined at White Barn Inn for our anniversary. This was not our first experience at White Barn and this gem continues to get better while other restaurants of the same ilk seem to lose their flair. I find it pleasant to find restaurants that still require a jacket for men where tuxedo attired servers present the courses in unison. However, The white barn is not "all hat and no cattle" relying purely on presentation but each course becomes increasingly delicious. The deconstructed and reconstructed lobster in and amazing cognac sauce is the tastiest lobster I have ever have the pleasure of enjoying. The wine pairings selected by Angela could not have been better including the Pinot Noir accompanying the lobster. While one may feel that a Chardonnay or other traditional white would be more appropriate for the lobster her belief is that the cognac sauce while not obtrusive to the lobster, created a better pairing with the Pinot Noir and boy was she spot on! Do not be confused by "barn" in the name as they have created the perfect architectural and decor blend of a rustic barn with upscale club like comfort. While the White Barn is probably not a place where you would dine weekly it's certainly is a true dining experience, perfect for entertaining guests or for special occasions. read more

Absolutely spectacular. Is it worth $109 per person plus beverages, tax and tip? That's hard to say, but I LOVED it. I highly recommend the steamed lobster with coral sauce served over homemade pasta and veggies. The atmosphere is lovely and the service is perfect!! read more

Service was excellent (top notch) and ambiance was perfect. The interior of this old barn is stunning. Before we sat at our table- we enjoyed having a cocktail at the grand piano prior. We thoroughly enjoyed this and got so entranced in the music and in the setting. I would definitely recommend getting here before your reservation to have a drink prior to sitting. Apps were both very good- one being the foie gras. Mains were disappointingly just ok. Some of the dishes, our fish entree for instance, was bland and the lobster was a bit chewy. I also found the entree options to be a bit limited. Dessert was tasty and elegantly presented. Was so impressed by everything else however that I would return on my next visit. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

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Great time and atmosphere! The food and staff were amazing. We stayed at the Inn as well and went back for breakfast.

We have gone to the White Barn for 30 years, once a season to celebrate our anniversary. We have also stayed at the Inn. We know lots of history and changes over time. The things not changed are charming such as the decor and piano music and subdued atmosphere. However for our 48 th anniversary dinner last night there was too many changes that felt like " let's save time or money, no one will notice". In celebration of our anniversary we were always given a glass of champagne. It was an appreciated touch that started off the evening on a high note. Last night the hostess apparently missed the note that it was our anniversary when she asked if we were celebrating an occasion. Although we mentioned our anniversary no champagne appeared. The service felt very by the. Book, not personal. The Maitre'd never came by to see how things were. The food was unspectacular. No outstanding flavors. My duck was fatty and tough and nothing special. There was not one dessert that called to me since I like dark chocolate, none on the menu so I ordered berries and received a small bowl. No happy Anniversary on the plate. My husband's Blueberry soufflé was not particularly good and half the size of past soufflé portions. Offerings from the past of extra courses were missing. The tree of tiny dessert was very unremarkable. No parting gift as in the past. The very most outstanding part of the evening was the price. It was totally NOT in line with our food experience. Reviews next year would have to knock me off my feet to get me to return. There was a small plaque in honor of the gentleman who had the original vision of the White Barn Inn and other successful business in the area. Sadly This year it was gone. Respect for the history was very much missed by us. read more

A perfect evening from start to finish. Setting is beautiful and inviting. Staff is welcoming and informative. And then there's the main attraction....the food. No description will adequately inform you so all I can say is if you get the opportunity to enjoy an evening at the Barn GO!! read more

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Wonderful ambience and service. The dishes were incredible. We had a great dining experience.

My family has been vacationing in Maine for 30 years and Kennebunkport has been a great destination for walking around the town and exploring new finds. The White Bran Inn  is one of my new finds. The lazy mans lobster was out of this world ans for dessert I'm  having bananas foster a through back to the 80's. read more

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This place has impeccable ambiance, a wonderful, conversational service culture, and delicious food. We'll return.

This is my absolute favorite spot in southern Maine for a relaxing date night or a special occasion meal. Every time we have gone the service is on point with what you would expect of a Relais & Châteaux. From the moment you check in with the maitre d' to the service of bread and wine to your exit to your car (valet-led umbrellas in the rain)--the staff is attentive, polite, and knowledgable. The venue itself has a casual, elegant feel being in a barn-like setting. We prefer to be seated in the side dining room that overlooks the glassed-in garden lush with greenery and beautiful blooms, it is very serene and slightly more intimate than the main dining room/bar area. The prix fixe menu is always fresh and aligned to the seasons with a uniquely delicate and uncomplicated presentation. Make sure that you save room (and order ahead) for the airy souffle(s)--you will not be disappointed! We have only heard wonderful things about the accommodations and spa, but have yet to stay as we have a home in the surrounding area. read more

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Had dinner at the White Barn Inn on May 21 - party of 2. There were 5 other table tops, so the restaurant wasn't very busy. Overall, this restaurant falls short on fine dining because of service and food. Maybe it was a bad night for the kitchen and the service staff, but the overall experiance was far from fine dining. I contemplated whether my 2 stars is prejudice becuase of the restaurant's location. Before writing my review I remember dining at L'Oustau de Baumaniere, a fine establishment in rural France which holds bar to 'Fine Dining'. My dinner: -- Variation of Quebec Foie Gras featuring Seared on Brioche, Crème Brûlée and Baumkuchen Encased Torchon, Local Blueberries and Candied Almonds Why I ordered: I love foie gras and will likely order foir gras any place I go. Item sounds intetesting becuase it is foie gras produced in 3 different ways. Best foie gras I ate recently is at L'autra Pied in London. Opinion: Over seared foie fras to a point where it tasted like fine rubber. It wasnt the worst I have eaten, but below average. Moreover, the brioche was bland and looked like a cruton from their salad. Torchon was bland and average at best. Crème Brûlée foie gras was nice and best part of the dish. -- French Onion Soup Why I ordered: It would be a good follow up to the foie gras and help clean my palate. Moreover, the dish is a classic. Opinion: Not a bad dish but lacks the deep rich flavours I expected. Interestingly, the soup is served in a narrow cup with a soup spoon nearly the same diameter as the cup!! --- Steamed Maine Lobster Nestled on a Bed of Homemade Fettuccine with Carrot, Ginger, Snow Peas and Cognac Coral Butter Sauce Why I ordered: Being in Maine why not finish with a lobster. The loster was cooked well, but its flavors were overwhelmed by the abundance of butter sauce. Ginger usually has a strong flavor but I wasn't able to detect it in my dish. Service: Overall, the service is mixed but far from fine dining. Attentitive but not lofty or suffocating. Minor things which seperate good service from fine dining. Miscues: 1. server reaching across patron, 2. Not offered bread beyond initial, 3. No sommelier pre-tatse wine, 4. table cloth not iron, just unfolded from laundry with creases (like a kid waking up and wearing clothes from hamper), 5. waiter sweep only 1 corner of table rather than entire table (it would have been better to not clean our table). My overall opinion, the food is average. I question the classification of the restaurant as 'fine dining'. There is a mismatch between price, food quality and service. There are other local establishments with the same food quality at a lower price point. read more

My husband insisted that we try the White Barn Inn Restaurant during our stay in Portland. We arrived a bit early (okay, 45 minutes early!), and enjoyed sitting at the bar, sipping cocktails and chatting with the bar tender. While we might be a bit younger than their usual clientele, we felt very comfortable there. Our table was ready right on time for the 8:30pm seating. Everything about eating here was flawless - the service, the presentation, the complimentary tastes throughout the meal (my favorite was either the chocolate mousse with berry mascarpone or the mini macaroons) The food was all very good and the portions were quite generous for fine dining. We especially enjoyed the cheese course, when a large table of probably 30 types of cheese was wheeled over to our table and we were able to choose which ones we wanted. I was a little nervous that the restaurant would be stuffy and that we would feel out of place. But the meal was anything but that and well worth the money. Bravo to the White Barn Inn restaurant - the accolades are well deserved! read more

My fiance and I heard about this place from a book listing places to go to before you die. It must be pretty good then. So we were both there passing through the neighborhood and decided to make reservations a week in advance. This place was really fancy. Too fancy for us, but we had to try it anyways. Fellas, remember to bring a sports coat/jacket. It's mandatory to eat with it too. What in the world?! Anyways, we got the seasonal meal set and you just have to get the Lobster Bisque if it's available. Heck, get all the variations of lobster there. It's a must! I'm writing this review 1.5 years late, but I still remember every moment of it. That must mean something. Check it out if you're out there. Cheers! read more

We wanted to fall in love with the White Barn, but it just didn't happen. For the lofty sum that we paid, we needed to be bowled over by everything. That didn't happen. First the great. It's a really beautiful space. Beautiful. Magical. Next, the service is terrific. Attentive, friendly, not cloying. Sincerely nice servers. The parking lot guy walked us to the car, holding an umbrella. The problem is the food. For nearly two bills per person (including alcohol and tip) what you should be constantly thinking is "how did they do that". We didn't. Some things were really special and surprising, like the oysters with a variety of toppings such as an apple puree or caramel popcorn. My celeriac and bacon soup was also awfully good. But there were misses, such as the lobster on fettuccini with butter sauce, which should have been delicate but instead was almost tasteless. The bread was average at any price. And desert was unmemorable (I literally don't remember what I had) and long (4 separate series of sweets, including the desert we ordered). I'm not sorry we went. It was a nice experience. But considering the price, we would probably explore other places next time. Others might want to give it a try - perhaps all the stars will align for them. read more

We went with the expectation of superior food and service, but received far less. I went with the tasting menu, my mom ordered from the regular menu. Nothing was timed appropriately, nor did we see our waiter more than 4 times. Instead the service was left to the bus staff and the bread and water service. The food was served cold and unpalatable, and we waited 2.5 hours for our main dish. We watched customers arrive and leave during our entire time there. Unacceptable for an establishment that requires a jacket to dine. To top it off, we rushed for a 6 o'clock seating to which there was no one at all in the dining room to be seated with. While being told we would be charged unless we were on time. We decided to leave based on these factors. We informed the staff, as well as the maitre'd, of the sub par service we received. The waiter was unapologetic, while the maitre'd at least listened to our complaints. We leave now, 4 hours after being seated, without having dessert or anything resembling a meal. We were given a discount for the items we didn't receive, but nothing more. We spoke up to the staff about our less than gratifying experience, with little to show for it. I believe in paying good money for good service. The white barn inn has provided that in the past; I went last year after Christmas with my mom and sister and had a wonderful meal and experience. It's unfortunate this seems to no longer be the case. We won't be back. read more

The White Barn Restaurant - Beautiful Christmas lights... - New American Near Me - Kennebunk Beach, Maine

5 of my friends and I had dinner in the WBI Bistro using their Winter Warmer menu. The food was fine (caesar salad under dressed) but the service was sub par. Each course was servied piecemeal instead of all together so that we all had to wait too long while the rest of the group was served. The dessert of a trio of sorbets with each person making a different selection was botched - the wrong selection served to each person and then the server picked up several plates and switched them not once but twice. We have dined many times at the WBI Dining Room and had excellent experiences with food and service. Maybe we should not have expected the same in the Bistro. read more

A charming restaurant that marries French master classical service with northeastern farm to table creativity on otherwise standard plates. We went here for our wedding anniversary. The exterior was calm and relaxing, a singular valet, and polite maitre d' helped us to our seats. The interior was very country, dark and romantic, with a beautiful A frame window featuring an arrangement of harvest vegetables and flowers all lit to perfection. The food was top notch. I chose to dine on the corn chowder, Parmesan mousse, and beef tenderloin followed by an amazing smoked coconut cheesecake. My wife had seared scallops, tomato soup, and halibut followed by a blueberry souffle that popped with tiny blueberries. The server paired the wines perfectly and avidly described each with entertaining stories. The clientele persisted primarily of well to do retirees, bring a dinner jacket. Will return again! read more

A true "wow" experience. The setting is beyond beautiful. The service is outstanding - a standard of service rarely seen these days. The food was phenomenal - great flavors, beautiful presentation. Some of our favorites were the lobster tagliatelle, sweet pea agnolotti, the duck with cherries, and the goat milk cheesecake. But it was all good. We also did the wine pairing with the meal which was fun. It is very pricey.....a special occasion type of place which you might hit every other occasion...but an experience in excellence from the minute we drove up until the time we left. read more

There are only two fine dining restaurants I would give 5 stars to and this is the second one (the first is the flagstaff house in Colorado). This review comes one year late but never the less, my strong memories of this experience speak volumes. This place is not cheap, in fact it is quite expensive BUT you get what you pay for. The service is the best I have ever experienced. I know some people who have left reviews found it to be over the top and pretentious but I did not. When I go to a place like this and pay top dollar I expect the service to be exceptional - from a live piano player who took my requests to someone who places the napkin on my lap and sweeps up every single crumb from the perfect table cloth. Anyhow, beyond the service was the food ---- and it was amazing. We had the tasting menu with the full wine accompaniment. The wines were outstanding, the cheeses were delicious as were the entrees and the desert was decadent. None of the dishes were pushing it too far a la top chef. they were the right amount of creative and classic. The ambiance is perfect for a romantic dinner. There are lovely gardens, twinkling lights and great music. I was also happy to see the dress code in effect and enforced. I can't say much else about this place. It was worth it and I would go again. Perfect spot for an anniversary or valentines dinner. read more

Full disclosure about the three stars: About halfway through my entree, I reached what turned out to be a mistaken conclusion that we were paying an additional $85 each for the wine pairing. I was on my second glass of good but not mindblowingly spectacular wine (which had been poured into my glass quite sparingly, by the way), and I knew I had one more glass coming. "85 for three glasses glasses of wine!" I thought. "Very, very uncool." I am not exaggerating to say that I was growing increasingly livid. It was then that I started to realize how overly salty my entree tasted (the cod envelope), how unoriginal and greasy the lobster spring roll was (just tasted like a spring roll with lots of lobster in it-- no real interesting or imaginative twist) and how much I really loathe dessert wines (the next glass of wine I was expecting.) I was seriously about to flag the server down to complain when my husband corrected me. "The wine pairing is $48 per person" he explained. Suddenly the food tasted better, but I can't say that I was ever able to fully recover after that. $16 per glass of wine isn't exactly a bargain, but at least I didn't feel like I was being completely ripped off. I have to be honest, though-- I still don't think I would give the White Barn Inn more than four stars even if I had not been mistaken about how much the wine pairing cost. The food was quite good, but I've had better for that price (i.e. L'espalier, No. 9 Park). There was only one moment when I felt like the food gave me a transformational experience-- the white tomato soup intermezzo. Oh. my. god. It was seriously amazing. But at the prices the White Barn Inn is charging, I'd expect most everything to be seriously amazing. And that third glass of wine? They did bring out a dessert wine, but substituted it for a different glass of wine when I told them I can't stand dessert wine. That was nice of them, but the wine they brought out was again nothing special. I'm not an oenophile, which is exactly why I would expect to go to a place like the White Barn Inn and get a glass of wine that I've never heard of before and I can't find anywhere else. But what did they serve? A sauvignon blanc that you can get virtually anywhere. Perfectly serviceable, but not what you'd expect from a place like the White Barn Inn. Also, while the service was very personal and elegant, it was still flawed. For instance, I found my dessert sitting at my place when I came back from the bathroom. This isn't huge, but at a place like that, I'd expect them to wait to serve a course until I was back at the table. I really wanted to give this place a better review; I'd been looking forward to going for so long. But the next time I have $400 burning a hole in my wallet, I'm going to L'espalier. read more

A truly unforgettable experience. We had the chef's tasting menu: nine courses of (mostly) small servings that really packed a punch. It's hard for me to accurately describe all the exquisite dishes, except that they were all innovative and wonderful. A smoked lobster dish was one of my favorites, as was the main course of beef with the most amazing blue cheese-filled tortellini. And the desserts (plural)... basically, we had four different kinds! It was probably the most expensive meal of my life, and we'll probably need to hold off on really fancy dining for awhile, but it was worth it. As others have mentioned, the ambiance is lovely, the service is top notch. Exquisite. read more

I have to agree with Tero on his review and I can't help, but compare this place to Inn at Little Washington (their sister location) which is absolutely amazing and that is the reason for the 4 stars. The service was great, but they did seem like they were trying a little too hard. Also, the food was good, but not as good as Inn at Little Washington. They did however make my favorite drink (stoli peach + lemonade) which the bartender said was really good and would like to add it to their summer menu, so if in fact they did, it's thanks to me. Heh! read more

Outstanding. I have had the fortune of dining in many fine restaurants across the country including Per Se in NY (for example). This dining experience was comparable to that, perfectly executed minus any attitude. We arrived on time and were seated immediately by a formal yet comfortable and friendly Maitre D'. We never felt rushed, took our time mulling over the menu and our server was available for questions. My experience in this level of restaurant has been mixed with server snobbishness regarding questions about the menu and wine. We found our server to be very open to explaining the food and ingredients....even admitting when he needed to double check an ingredient. The service style is French which made it extra special. Our 4-course menu was actually 8 courses. The restaurant sends out 4 extra courses, a savory amuse before the meal, what I will call a sweet amuse before dessert, an elegant silver tree of petit fours after dessert and a treat with the bill. We had the Lobster bisque which was filled with lobster and had warm (probably should have been piping) broth poured over it tableside. This dish was really a stew, not as rich or creamy as a bisque. Initially we were disappointed (expecting bisque) however at the end of the grand meal we were happy to not have had something very rich. Foie gras and quail appetizer was excellent. For entrees the lobster over linguine (the most elegant presentation of 2 potentially difficult to eat dishes I have ever seen) and the monkfish. Desserts were a souffle and creme brulee. They were fine, not as memorable as the entrees. The White Barn Inn Restaurant does in fact look like a refurbished barn with wood walls and floor, beams and a loft. Each table is accented with brass foul. I am not sure why some complain about the cost as though they were unclear of the prices before dining. For the level of food and service I found the cost to be in line with any comparable restaurant. read more

One of my top three meals of all time. . . and I do enjoy eating out. . . We went there on our last day of vacation because we were told that it was definitely a place we didn't want to miss. We were also warned that it would not be an inexpensive dining experience, but that hasn't stopped us in the past. We were greeted promptly, professionally, and warmly by the maitre d', and asked if we would like to relax at the bar with a cocktail before we were seated, even though our table was ready. We opted to have a cocktail first and were served at the piano bar (played beautifully by the pianist, btw) by the bartender, who was also warm, friendly and professional. After sipping our cocktails for a while, we chose to adjourn to our table and were greeted by our primary server for the evening, a charming young woman from the Czech Republic who was wonderful throughout the night. My wife opted for the four course meal with wine pairings, and I took the challenge and chose the 9 course dinner with wine pairings (I appreciated that they didn't require that the whole table had to have the 9 course meal, which has been the case at other places). There was a guest chef in the kitchen that night as well, and they were offering some dishes that were not normally on their menu, so I was really looking foward to the whole meal. I don't remember the names of everything I tasted that night, but it was all quite fantastic - it started off good, moved to great/excellent, and reached sublime and stayed there about halfway through my nine courses. And the wines that were selected to accompany each dish were perfect. My wife also thoroughly enjoyed her dishes; I was able to try her lobster entree, which was very tasty. Overall, this was a very memorable dining experience. Pricey, yes, but definitely worth it in my book. Everything (service, food, ambiance) was superb, from start to finish. Thank goodness it's not in Rhode Island, otherwise I would want to go there more. We definitely will make it a "must go to" whenever we stay in Kennebunkport. read more

Overhyped and overpriced. This place borders on the silly. Example: there is a step from one level of the dining area to another. One poor bastard's job is to stand near the step and point it out to you when you approach it. This place is the reason the word "cloying" was invented read more